“Youssoupha doesn’t rap, he teaches” On social networks, Generation Z sees in him much more than a rapper: philosopher, wise man, lyricist, teacher… There is no shortage of qualifiers. On the occasion of the release of his new album, “Supreme Love”, on January 25, the artist confided to us his creative process and his vision of this long-awaited project.
A tailor-made album
Now independent with his own label, Youssoupha returns with an album that he describes as his most accomplished project. Inspired by figures like Kanye West and Youssou N’Dour, this opus mixes amapiano, gospel and underground New York rap. It reflects his new taste for West African music, while paying homage to his Senegalese roots and the hip-hop culture that shaped him. “I wanted to give everything on this album. I got much more involved, I wrote more, produced more, nothing was left to chance. It was a real challenge,” he tells us. For this project, Youssoupha also reached out to the younger generation by collaborating with emerging talents for production. Result: an album which reflects artistic maturity, but also an openness to the future. “I agreed to release this album because it finally corresponded to my ambitions.”
Feminist without knowing it
At the dawn of the release of his 7th album, a new title begins to stick to him: that of feminist, a role that he struggles to take on. The reason? Her latest single “God is great”, present in the album, went viral thanks to a strong message addressed to her daughter. This title deeply touched many listeners, some claiming to have dreamed of hearing such words from their father. With more than 10,000 TikTok videos created around this song, Youssoupha even receives thanks for being one of the rare French-speaking rappers to stand out with lyrics that promote women. But the artist himself admits to being surprised and overwhelmed:
“I’m not a feminist. I’m just a normal guy who wanted to convey some love and attention to his daughter with a song,” he explains to 20 Minutes. In his text, however, he sends a powerful and liberating message to his daughter:
“Hey, you don’t have to be a normal girl, you don’t have to be Michelle Obama. You don’t have to want to be a mother, you don’t have to want to be a queen. Don’t listen to men, don’t listen to orders, don’t listen to codes that say shit. Learn again to love your body, to love your shapes, to love yourself. »
From the love he has for his wife, to his thoughts on the world, through his roots, “Supreme Love” reveals a new side of the artist. If he ends up accepting the title of philosopher that has been attributed to him for years, it could take him a little more time to appropriate that of feminist. But one thing is certain: Youssoupha continues to inspire, sometimes even beyond his expectations.